Why are silicon diode preferred to germanium diode?

Why are silicon diode preferred to germanium diode?

Why is Silicon preferred over Germanium for semiconductor? The reason is, Silicon can be worked at a higher temperature as compared to germanium. The structure of Germanium crystals will be destroyed at higher temperature. Also, Silicon has much smaller leakage current than that of germanium.

Which is better silicon diode or germanium diode?

Silicon diode is easier to produce than germanium diode due to the widespread availability of silicon. The silicon diode is less sensitive than the germanium diode, hence the operation of silicon diodes is stable with changes in temperature. The Si diode has low reverse current compared to Ge.

Are germanium diodes still made?

Germanium diodes are still available. You can use 1N34 and 1N270 for instance.

What is the difference between germanium diode and silicon diode?

A Silicon Diode is a semiconductor that has both positive and negative charge polarity and can allow an electrical current to flow in one direction whilst restricting another. A Germanium Diode works in the same way but has a low forward voltage which results in it being a low power loss and an efficient diode.

How germanium can be used as a substitute for silicon?

Germanium is one material being considered to replace silicon because it could enable the industry to make smaller transistors and more compact integrated circuits, Ye said.

How can you tell if a diode is germanium?

How can I tell if I have a Ge or Si diode? You can easily distinguish Silicon and Germanium Diodes. Silicon diodes should read approx 0.7V and Germanium diodes should read 0.3V.

Why silicon and germanium are not used in LED?

Light Emitting Diode Structure LEDs are p-n junction devices constructed of gallium arsenide (GaAs), gallium arsenide phosphide (GaAsP), or gallium phosphide (GaP). Silicon and germanium are not suitable because those junctions produce heat and no appreciable IR or visible light.

When would you use a germanium diode?

The germanium diode works well for small jobs, but most technology needs something that can handle more power. One of the most well-known germanium diodes is the 1N34 diode. This diode is still used today in some analog technologies and in radio receivers.

How can you tell the difference between silicon and germanium?

Silicon is a chemical element with atomic number 14 and chemical symbol Si while germanium is a chemical element with atomic number 32 and chemical symbol is Ge. The key difference between silicon and germanium is that Germanium has d electrons, but Silicon does not have any d electrons.

Why silicon and germanium are widely used?

Silicon and germanium are used here effectively because they have 4 valence electrons in their outermost shell, which gives them the ability to gain or lose electrons equally at the same time.